2020-21 Stanislaus County Teachers of the Year Announced

The Modesto Rotary Club and the Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE) announced the selection of four local educators as 2020-21 Stanislaus County Teachers of the Year at a Hybrid Rotary luncheon on May 4 held at the DoubleTree Hotel, the Petersen Event Center, and via Zoom.  In addition, a Jane Johnston Civility Award was presented to one of the 12 finalists for exemplifying the principles of civility.  “Last year, before COVID took us all by surprise, SCOE received 74 nominations from public and private school principals representing 13 districts and 74 schools throughout the county,” said Jason Maggard, SCOE Chief of Staff. “A selection committee, composed of local Rotarians and educators, narrowed the nominations through a paper screening process and then visited the classrooms of 24 semi-finalists before narrowing it down to the 12 finalists. We are thrilled that we were finally able to recognize our Teacher of the Year Finalists.”
The 2020-21 Teachers of the Year are: Bob Elms from La Rosa Elementary School in the Ceres Unified School District – TK-3 division; Carlos Perez from Empire Elementary School in the Empire Union Elementary School District – 4-6 division; Elizabeth Holtan from Cesar Chavez Junior High in the Ceres Unified School District – junior high division; and Ismael Mercado from Riverbank High School in the Riverbank Unified School District – high school division.
The four selected as Teachers of the Year each received a $1,000 cash award from the Modesto Rotary Club Foundation. Mocse Credit Union also sponsored the event and provided funding for the awards, decorations and lunch for the student entertainers.

Teacher of the Year Program handed to attendees on May 4, 2021